Kerala State Film Awards: Vinayan accuses Ranjith of influencing the jury, releases audio clip

Related: 53rd Kerala State Film Awards: Mammootty and Vincy Aloshious bag the top honours

Ranjith must resign

In his Facebook post, Vinayan wrote: “I have always fought against the injustice towards me during a bad phase in my career. I think it would be wrong to keep silent about this issue. Congratulate all the winners of this year’s state awards, and I am writing this as I accept the decision of the jury members wholeheartedly.”

“I wouldn’t claim that my film Pathonpatham Noottandu is a superb movie even if competed for this year’s awards. But does it give the Chalachitra Academy Chairman the right to influence the jury members to avoid the films of those whom the chairman dislikes?” the filmmaker questioned.

Further, Vinayan alleged that a senior jury member tried to get in touch with the Cultural Minister’s personal secretary and also the secretary of Chalachithra Academy to alert them about Ranjith’s interference.

But there was no response from the authorities and the Academy Chairman wasn’t kept away even till the awards were announced.

Vinayan even went a step ahead and asked if the Cultural Minister Saji Cheriyan was aware of these happenings.

Also Read: 53rd Kerala State Film Awards: Jury faces criticism for not picking the best

In his post, Vinayan also questioned Ranjith’s right in interfering in the process and demanded that he should resign from the post if found guilty of influencing the jury.

According to Vinayan, he came to know that Ranjith allegedly told jury members that Pathonpatham Noottandu was a good-for-nothing film during the award selection time.

Vinayan said Ranjith wasn’t happy when he knew that Pathonpatham Noottandu was considered for the Kerala State Film Awards in several categories, including art direction.

He alleged that the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Chairman influenced jury member Gauthami. “She said the sets weren’t created properly. She even said the cardboard was visible in the movie.”

He also claimed that a jury member told him that director KM Madhusudhanan and Hari were speaking in favour of Ranjith, which was very sad.

Have evidence: Vinayan

Stating that he had all the evidence to prove that Ranjith influenced the jury, Vinayan said he would soon submit the same to the media.

When the jury decided to give away three awards to the film for music and dubbing, Ranjith asked the former to reconsider the same. But jury Chairman Goutham Gosh decided not to make any more changes, he said.

Vinayan also wondered why Cultural Minister Saji Cheriyan remained silent when the jury member informed his private secretary about Ranjith’s intervention.

Audio clip released

Late on Monday, 31 July, director Vinayan released an audio clip on his Facebook page where jury member Nemom Pushparaj confirmed the director’s claims that filmmaker Ranjith played politics to stop Pathonpatham Noottandu from winning awards.

In the clip, Nemon Pushparaj told a reporter that he was disturbed after Vinayan’s Pathonpatham Nootandu was denied an award in the art direction category. The jury member also said Ranjith interfered in the award selection process and lost his credibility to remain in the Chairman’s (Chalachitra Academy) position.

Interestingly, Vinayan came to know about these issues after an art director recorded his phone conversation with Nemon Pushparaj.

In the audio clip, Pushparaj also told the reporter that he wasn’t aware that his phone call with the art director was being recorded. However, he later realised that the recording was sent to Vinayan.

(Updated with the latest information.)